This is an absolutely exquisite AUD -- you want it. 5 stars and a big thank you to the Oade Bros. Outstanding work gentlemen and thank you for sharing it with us.
There are standout versions of 4 songs in this show. Row Jimmy, Birdsong, Sugar Mag, and Morning Dew
The C.C. Rider is also quite good.
@jjg4762
Yeah, I had good seats too, albeit in front of Phil, but Jerry didn't look bad to me and I never saw him lean on anything either.
Regarding the first set, he sure seemed on top of his game for Row Jimmy and Birdsong--these are two of my favorite versions of those songs. C.C. Rider is very good too. People that like Looks Like Rain seem to like this version.
I don't recall Jerry looking ill or anything in the second set. My recollection is that the second set was a bit on the unexceptional side for the most part, but that they got it working much better for Morning Dew and most especially for Sugar Magnolia.
Although I don't think the second set quite reached the height they did the first set in Row Jimmy and Birdsong, there certainly wasn't anything wrong with Morning Dew and Sugar Magnolia -- two very, very solid versions.
I do recall hearing about the show about a week earlier -- at a ski resort at high altitude. Recall hearing it was one of their few true stinker shows. Don't know if it was the altitude or what. Or maybe he was sick with a cold, sinus infection, or something through this stretch. This show (8/30/85) was one of the shorter shows I ever saw-- actually it was the shortest by quite a bit.
But, Houston in the summer is really hot and really humid. I'd have been slapping whoever booked an outside show in the summer in Houston, although I found it to be a delightful venue.
Plus, the "your ticket gets you into Astroworld free" part was great. I had friends come from out of town and we had a great time. There were a lot of shell-shocked parents and grandparents with little kids. Probably the only day Astroworld ever had where at times a majority of the people waiting in line for a ride were doing one-hitters. We were cracking up -- "have a feeling they aren't going to be trying this again in the future . . . " Oh well, I know their beer garden made a mint on us alone.

I do not know where these people were at this show but Jerry NEVER leaned on his amp. I was 5 feet from phils side of stage and clear veiw although dancing. so did not watch entire night.
But looked as fine as Jerry ever looked

This was my first of a mere two shows. A special night, which I never tire of listening to. I was with my then and still best friend (his only show) and the tie-dye, window pane, and everything got to me right away, and I connected for the first time with the romanticized view I had been carrying about the 60's. Since then, this music inspires me everyday to be a better person, even or particularily the dark songs. I just wanted to say that reading the archive personal experiences, and listening and downloading the music has given me fulfilment beyond words. Thank you to all the tapers and musical engineers who've make this archive possible.

Jerry looked to be at death's door during this
period; he probably would have been accepted at
any mortuary without a second's thought. The
numerous comments about the eerie green cast
of his skin in the 84-85 period are no exaggeration.
Yet, in contrast to the quality of his playing
during later periods when ill-health and addiction severely affected him, he was often
in top form creatively and technically during
this time.
We can't judge the book by its cover. Erase
his ghoulish and swollen image from your mind
and re-consider this show on its musical merits
exclusively. Suddenly, it's a competent and
enjoyable effort,a little light on the Jerry
but a real whizzer for Boy Wonder Bob.
Four stars and a big thumbs up for recording
quality.

What a fun show and the WallyWorld atmosphere was a trip with chemical help or not.

I was in something like the third row right in front of Jerry. Not a pretty sight at all. Heat? Stage jitters? Too high? All of the above? Don't know, but I was certainly close enough to see that for most of the second set things weren't right with him. Morning Dew was pretty good, though.

Pre-drums was one of my most nightmarish GD segments. Jerry looked like he was gonna keel over right on stage. I remember him almost falling over after the Scarlet, literally leaning against his amp to prop himself up, unable to play. Somehow he managed to rally for the Dew, but it was not a pretty sight. Decent first set.

Its hard to believe that I was at the same show as Jazzman.{Maybe it was the purple gels :)- }. It just goes to show how people experience things in different ways. For me this show was one of the most fun shows ever. The amphitheater is in the Astroworld Amusement park, meaning that the ticket got you in the park. It was quite an experience seein Deadheads lined up for the roller coasters and the other rides. ( I'll never forget my friend Howie, handing out doses on the way up to the first drop of the roller coaster sayin "Going Up??") This Show had a carnival atmosphere. Unlike Compton Terrace where the amphitheater sloped down from the amusement park, This amphitheater had its stage set up with the park and roller coaster behind it. So you got all the flashing lights behind the stage, and in between songs you could hear the screams of people on the roller coasters and the carnival, calliope music.
It had rained all day and was at least 100 degrees that night, so the humidity was close to 100%. Everyone and everything was dripping, which made it all the more surreal. the Full moon was rising as the Dead opened with an inspired Jack Straw>Row Jimmy, the Bird song is unique as well with bird chirping throughout. The second set, while well played was a tad short, due to the humidity and heat I think, and it was disappointing to see the band go into drums after Samson& delilah. However, after drums is totally inspired. Jerry starts Wheel, but phil seems to jump in and overpowers with the Gimme some lovin intro,and a very strong version with a sweet Wheel >Other one, capped off by a truly great DEW, with a Sugar Mag encore. Although I personally believe that '81 - '82 were the best post Donna/Keith years, 85 is pretty damn good as well in this Deadhead's humble opinion. I loved this show!!!

This was some good times down in Houston, show was FUN. Nice Job Done By The Oade Brothers. Good times and Good Sound.

This show screams utter boredom. Great sound quality thanks to Doug. Don't waste your time downloading this one. You may want to check it out via streaming though. There were no real exceptional things to say on this one....
Craig in Sf